Fruit and cheese, sugar and
spice, sweet and savoury—food combinations are an interesting thing. More often
than not, we like to stick to our traditional notions, making a classically
cooked dish that we’re happy to eat. But every now and then, a burst of flavour
can take us by surprise and arrest our taste buds. Today, we’re helping you out
with the tasting game (for better or for worse) and giving you five tried,
tested and declared delicious quirky food combinations. We hope you’re left
smacking your lips as hard as we did after some sampling.
Red Hot Chilli Chocolate
Whether it’s a straight up bark
of bitter chocolate paired with red hot chilli, hot truffles or a lip-smacking
dish of chilli con carne (beef chilli with chocolate)—when chilli and chocolate
are paired together, the flavours released are rich and delicious. Any seasoned
cook will tell you that the best dishes have a perfect balance of
flavours—whether it’s sweet and sour or in this case sweet, bitter and hot.
Pears and Parmesan
A great dessert dish, ripe pears
and parmesan makes for a classic combination. Add in some salad greens and
balsamic vinaigrette to make for a spectacular salad. The fresh crisps of pear
with the crumbly, texture of the cheese will make for an unexpected but
delightful taste.
Fried Chicken and Waffles
Sweet, buttery waffles, saturated
in a pool of sticky maple syrup paired with crispy fried chicken. This
traditionally American pairing comes from the country’s soul food tradition as
a breakfast or brunch meal. The unusual food pairing is a beloved one and one
that has influenced generations of families. The crispiness of the chicken and
waffles pairs beautifully together as does the sweetness of the soft meat with
the butter and maple syrup. Not the best for your cholesterol, but our mouth is
already watering at just the thought of this delicious combination, which
sounds pretty simple to whip up too!
